Published on:
22
March 2010
Clackmannanshire Council is the latest Scottish local authority to sign up to WWF's Earth Hour 2010. At 8.30pm on Saturday 27th March people in Clackmannanshire will join millions across the globe in switching off their lights for 60 minutes in a graphic demonstration of support for people and wildlife threatened by climate change.
Already this year the Scottish Government, COSLA and STUC have signed up and WWF Scotland has written to local authorities across the country urging them to take part again and cut the lights on prominent landmarks for an hour.
Clackmannanshire Council will mark Earth Hour by switching off the floodlights on Alloa Town Hall.
Dr Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland said: "It is great news Clackmannanshire Council has given its backing to WWF's Earth Hour 2010. This year's event promises to be bigger and better than ever with communities from around the world joining together again in a dramatic hour of action on climate change.
"After world leaders failed to agree a strong new international climate deal in Copenhagen it is more important than ever that Governments act urgently to set out a clear timetable for when a legally binding agreement will be reached. In the mean time we need to encourage more local action to reduce emissions.
"WWF's Earth Hour is a simple way for people to show their support for strong action on climate change. Clackmannanshire Council's decision to join WWF's Earth Hour highlights their commitment to this issue and demonstrates to others around the world that Scotland continues to take action to address climate change."
Councillor Eddie Carrick, Portfolio Holder for Sustainability, said: "Earth Hour is the world's greatest climate change event and I'm delighted that Clackmannanshire Council is about to once again show our support for this world wide movement. This symbolic action demonstrates that people and organisations around the world are concerned and prepared to take action. I would also like to encourage staff and local residents to sign up and take part in Earth Hour. This is an opportunity to raise awareness of the energy we use, to seek ways to reduce our demands and to move to low carbon sources."
[1] WWF's Earth Hour - 8.30pm, Saturday 27 March 2010. For more information about WWF's Earth Hour http://www.wwfscotland.org.uk/earthhour
WWF's Earth Hour lights-out initiative began in Sydney, Australia in 2007 as an awareness-raising exercise. By 2009 3,000 cities and towns in more than 80 countries got involved with lights going out in 66 national capitals and 9 of the 10 most populated metropolises on the planet. Over 800 of the world's most iconic landmarks also went dark last year including the Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower and the Pyramids of Giza. Here in Scotland, 19 local authorities, 200 schools and over one hundred businesses and organisations joined in by switching their lights off for one hour in a graphic demonstration of support for determined international action on climate change. Some of Scotland's most iconic landmarks went dark including Edinburgh Castle, the Forth Bridge, Eilean Donan Castle, Glasgow's Clyde Arc (Squinty Bridge) and the Scottish Parliament.
[2] WWF Scotland is part of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, an alliance of development, environment and civil society groups aiming for tougher action to reduce emissions http://stopclimatechaosscotland.org
For further information, please contact:
Mandy Carter, t: 01350 728200, m: 07771 818677,
e: mcarter@wwfscotland.org.uk
Phone above numbers to arrange radio interviews on our ISDN line 01350 728276.